Local News in Brief : Police Chase Ends in Four-Car Crash

A police chase ended in a four-car smash-up near the Park La Brea apartments Monday, injuring five people, including the driver who attempted to evade officers, officials said.

The injuries in the chain-reaction collision about 8:25 a.m. at Detroit and 3rd streets were not considered serious, but the five people were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment, Lt. Michael Ranshaw said.

No officers were injured, Ranshaw said.

The pursuit began when motorcycle Officer Dennis Huddleston saw a yellow Mercury bump into another car at San Vicente and La Brea boulevards in Los Angeles and the driver refused to pull over, Ranshaw said.

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Huddleston, with lights and siren going, pursued the Mercury until an officer in a patrol car from the Wilshire Division took over at Pico Boulevard and Hauser Avenue.

During the chase, the driver of the Mercury, Stephen May, 23, allegedly drove on the wrong side of the street, went through a red light and weaved through traffic, Ranshaw said.

The chase ended when May smashed into a Rolls-Royce, starting a chain-reaction crash involving two other cars.

May was placed in police custody at the hospital and faced charges that included avoiding arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, hit-and-run driving and reckless driving, Ranshaw said.